The Ultimate Vanlife Europe Checklist (Before You Start Your Trip!) - Travelling Jezebel The Ultimate Vanlife Europe Checklist (Before You Start Your Trip!)

Vanlife in Europe is an adventure. You get to see alpine passes, Mediterranean beaches, medieval towns and lots of stunning coastal roads.

However, when it comes to planning your first campervan trip or vanlife adventure, it’s important to plan things properly in order to avoid disaster on the road. This list is full of practical steps that you can take to make sure you’re fully prepared before embarking on your European vanlife journey, so it’s important to read it carefully and make sure you aren’t overlooking anything important.

Are you ready?

Then let’s get into it.

Table of Contents

The Ultimate Vanlife Europe Checklist

1. Sort your documents

For me, the first thing that gets done before any trip is getting my paperwork sorted. Although it is laborious, it will really protect you from a lot of problems down the line.

Passport validity (most EU countries require more than 3 months)

If there is a trip coming up, I always make sure that my passport is valid for at least six months. Most EU countries will require you to have a passport that is valid for at least three months after the day you leave. Non-compliance can lead to refusal of entry into the country, ending your trip before it’s even started.

Driving licence

This almost goes without saying, but make sure you bring your driver’s licence and double check that it isn’t expired or physically damaged before you travel. An illegal licence can cause you insurance problems if you are stopped or get into an accident.

Find out if an International Driving Permit is needed

Certain countries may require an IDP depending on the type of your driving licence or the duration of your stay, so it’s always wise to check the official guidance before every trip. An IDP is very cheap and can help you avoid any trouble if the local police ask you for further documents.

Travel insurance

You shouldn’t be travelling at all without travel insurance, which will protect you from trip cancellations, theft, or extortionate medical bills. Travel health insurance makes me feel safe in case of the unexpected, and my go-to recommendation is SafetyWing.

Motorhome insurance covering European travel

Not all UK motorhome policies automatically come with Europe. Before your first European trip, make sure to increase your motorhome insurance level to totally cover European driving, roadside assistance abroad, theft, windscreen damage, and the full trip duration.

A breakdown in the Alps could easily land you with a bill worth hundreds or even thousands of pounds without insurance, so travelling without proper cover just isn’t worth the risk.

2. Check Your Vehicle Is Europe-Ready

European countries often require safety equipment that isn’t required in the UK. Some fines are pretty steep if you don’t comply with the regulations.

I wrote a separate article about driving in Europe which you should check out after finishing this one!

Headlight beam deflectors

As UK vehicles drive on the left and European vehicles on the right, UK headlight beams set for left-hand driving are a nuisance for oncoming traffic. Deflectors adjust the beams and are legally required when driving a UK-registered vehicle in Europe to prevent dazzling oncoming traffic.

GB/UK sticker

Nowadays, a UK identifier is a requirement in most border crossings because of the new Brexit rules. It’s advisable to keep one always attached to the car so as not to have any problem at the border (it’s easy to forget about!).

Reflective jackets (required in many countries)

France, Spain, Italy and Belgium all require at least one reflective jacket per occupant, while other countries like Germany only require one jacket per vehicle. The jackets must be inside the vehicle and ready to wear in case of an emergency stop.

Warning triangle(s)

During breakdowns, several countries require the placement of one or two warning triangles behind your vehicle. Without them, you risk being fined and the road situation being unsafe.

Spare bulbs

In certain European nations, it is the driver who is responsible for changing a faulty bulb without delay. You can be penalised if your light is not functioning during a random police check.

First-Aid Kit

Not only is carrying a first-aid kit really helpful, but it’s also a legal requirement in some European countries! Germany, Austria, Belgium, France, Croatia, and Poland all require first-aid kits according to the DIN 13164 standards. The board items that must be included are:

Gloves
Bandages
Gauze
Antiseptic wipes
Scissors

3. Plan your route

Spontaneity is fantastic, but when you are figuring out your journey, a solid plan will save you money as well as stress.

Look for low-emission zones

Lots of cities have environmental zones where you need a special sticker like CritAir for France, or Umweltplakette for Germany. If you drive in without the required sticker, more often than not, the fine is automatic and sent to your home weeks later.

Research toll roads

The main motorways in France and Italy are the quickest, but they don’t come cheap, especially if you have a tall campervan. To get an estimate of the cost, you can use online toll calculators.

Download offline maps

I’ve had one too many experiences of being hopelessly lost on my travels without any mobile data connection, and so I always make sure to download the map of the place I’m travelling to ahead of time. Having Google Maps offline allows you to still get to your destination, even without mobile data.

Check motorhome height restrictions

Extremely narrow streets and low bridges are common in the old towns across Europe. Always know your exact height and check the signs twice before going into historic town centres. Some European old town centres don’t even allow cars!

Look at the aires and camper stops in advance

There is a fantastic network of aires and camper sites in France and Spain, but at times of heavy travel, they are full. It’s wise to keep two to three overnight options up your sleeve just in case.

4. Wild camping rules

One of the main things that you’ll learn quickly is that wild camping rules differ greatly between countries. What is allowed in one place is against the law just at the other side of the border.

Being fined in a foreign country is not the worst thing in the world – it happens to many travellers who are unaware of the rules. However, it’s certainly not ideal, and can really eat into your travel budget.

Here are some wild camping rules to be aware of:

Scotland: basically allowed with respect

If you look at Scotland, wild camping is mostly permitted with the help of the Outdoor Access Code. However:

You have to be completely responsible for the environment and bring in everything that you bring out.
Avoid leaving your car or parking on a private field or blocking a road for access.
No loud parties and no vehicle camp setups (like awnings) in the most sensitive areas.

This way of looking at it is very generous; however, it totally depends on people following local etiquette and environmental protection rules.

France: aires are the best option

True wild camping (with chairs, BBQs, gazebos etc.) is hardly ever allowed, unless:

You use designated aire de service or aires de camping, cars.
You comply with the time limits indicated (these are usually for 24, 48 hours).
You park legally without crowding neighbourhoods.

Germany: regulated, not free

Wild camping in Germany, according to the law, is extremely limited. You may park overnight, but only for rest and therefore:

Setting up of outside furniture or a BBQ is not allowed.
Nature reserves are not to be used for parking.
Overnight stay is generally limited to one single night.

Switzerland: strict, different from one canton to another

The country is generally the least tolerant of unregulated wild camping:

Along the shores of lakes, edges of forests and places that frequently attract tourists, it is often forbidden to stay overnight in a vehicle.
It is also a practice in some cantons to actively issue fines.
You should always look at local signs or check out the websites of municipalities.

If you are unsure, just go to a nearby official campsite or aire. The fines in Switzerland are not a joke and can be more than the cost of a campsite!

6. Safety & practical prep

A safe campervan trip is one with which you have prepared, not one that you are hoping will just work out.

Emergency numbers in each country

112 is the universal emergency number within the EU, but being aware of the specific emergency protocols of a country eases the stress of a crisis.

European breakdown cover

Check that it covers:

Roadside repair
Towing
Accommodation if stranded overnight
Repatriation if repairs cant be done locally

Know how to turn off gas/water systems

Right before ferries or climbs, always:
Switch the gas bottles off
Secure water tanks
Close vents and hatches

If you don’t understand your own system, practising it once at home can avoid panic later.

Store copies of insurance documents digitally as well as physically

Documents can be lost or stolen.

I save all the items in a secure folder (as well as taking screenshots) so I can get to them anytime even without a signal. Having physical copies of everything means that even if my devices lose battery or get lost, I still have everything.

Know the speed limits for vehicles over 3.5t

There are lower limits for heavier vehicles on many EU highways and urban areas. Speed cameras and radars are very common fines can be higher than in the UK and sometimes you won’t receive them until weeks later.

Fuel comparison apps

Using a variety of apps such as “Essence” in France or “Fuel Flash” in Germany to locate the cheapest fuel prices nearby is great and will often save you between 0.10 and 0.20 per litre.

Toll calculators

I mentioned this earlier, but utilising toll calculator instruments prior to your journey enables you to determine in advance your motorway expenses so that you can plan your budget effectively before you leave.

Vanlife in Europe | Final Thoughts

Travelling around Europe in a van is a phenomenal way to see the world, but it’s essential to put in the necessary effort beforehand.

If you make sure to plan ahead and sort out everything before you leave, you’ll be sure to have a great time on every kilometre of the journey.

Until next time,

XOXO

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